Montérégie, QC
I’m one of the world’s largest hydropower generating stations and the fifth largest in Québec. I have 36 generating units spread out over almost a kilometre. I know—that’s huge! I’m quite proud of myself! I was built in the 1930s and, not that I want to brag, but my Art Deco-inspired architecture’s got style. In fact, I’ve even won awards for my appearance and was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. Pretty classy, right?
Come see me! I’m only 40 kilometres from downtown Montréal. I’ll even let you go down one of my turbine shafts, just to impress you. And don’t forget my interpretation center! You’ll be captivated! A guide will take you on your tour and explain who I am in detail. You’ll see, my guides are pros and very friendly!
I bet you’ll know all about how electricity is generated after you leave.
I’m waiting for you! The tour is free.
Have a look at these pictures to get a sneak peek of your guided tour.
No activities are held at our electricity interpretation centre at this time. But stay tuned!
Check our event schedule
No activities are held at our electricity interpretation centre at this time. But stay tuned!
Check our event scheduleAre your children aged between 6 and 12? Are they the curious type? Our Neurones atomiques team holds several science workshops during the year. They explore various topics and are always lots of fun. Your little science buffs will long remember the time they spent with us. What’s more, these activities are free!
Note: All workshops are given in French.
Are your children aged between 6 and 12? Are they the curious type? Our Neurones atomiques team holds several science workshops during the year. They explore various topics and are always lots of fun. Your little science buffs will long remember the time they spent with us. What’s more, these activities are free!
Note: All workshops are given in French.
Like New York City’s Empire State Building, my architecture is inspired by Art Deco, a style known for its elegant aesthetics popular during the 1920s. Even though my construction lasted more than 30 years, those who built me respected my architecture’s pure lines and classic compositions, preserving my robust and proud look. You’re sure to be amazed!
My 36 generating units each have a 300‑tonne rotor, as heavy as 50 African elephants! With my installed capacity of more than 1,900 megawatts, I can power nearly 400,000 homes. That’s the size of a city like Laval!
Every second, 8 million litres of water flow through me, enough to fill three Olympic-sized pools!
There is a huge flag near to where I am. It measures 200 metres by 100 metres! It was installed in 1953. Since then, it has been a key visual cue for pilots of eastbound planes landing on runways 6 left and 6 right at Trudeau airport. It can’t be missed!
I’m the longest and most powerful run‑of‑river generating station in Québec. I’m 926 metres long, the length of ten football fields laid end to end!
I was built in three phases: 1929 to 1932, 1948 to 1951, and 1956 to 1961. That’s almost 35 years! Find out (almost) everything about me with these historical milestones.
1881–1889: Construction of the Panama Canal
1914–1918: World War I
At the end of the 19th century, companies were looking for places to build generating stations in Québec. The Beauharnois Light, Heat and Power found a location near Saint‑Louis and Saint‑François lakes, which had the immense advantage of being close to Montréal and the Fleuve Saint‑Laurent (St. Lawrence River).
In 1929, during the stock market crash, engineer Robert O. Sweezey undertook a colossal project able to handle the immense flow of the mighty river. Then began the dredging of a huge canal to bring the water to the place where I would be built. To build the 25‑kilometre‑long, 1‑kilometre‑wide canal, 200 million cubic metres of material had to be excavated, nearly 20% more than for the Panama Canal.
In 1932, my first phase was commissioned, and 14 of my generating units began to supply the Montréal area. In 1933, after a financial scandal, I became the property of the Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company.
View of the jobsite of the first phase of construction of the generating station.
Source: Hydro‑Québec Archives
1939–1945: World War II
1960: Beginning of the Quiet Revolution
1962: Maîtres chez nous! – Election of Jean Lesage’s Liberal Party
1963: Second phase of electricity nationalization
1967: Montréal’s Expo 67 is held
Don’t take our word for it: this is what the people who visited the generating station with our guides had to say.
Very interesting. I got answers to questions I’d wondered about for ages.
Enthusiastic, pleasant guide. Very knowledgeable about the generating station’s history.
Super! Everyone should take advantage of it.
Visitors aged 18 and over must present official photo ID.
(accepted ID: health insurance card, driver’s license or passport)
Reservations are required at all times and must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
About 90 mins
Tours start at set times. We recommend that you arrive 15 minutes in advance.
From mid-June to the end of August
Every day at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. (reservations required)
From September to mid-June
Saturdays at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. (reservations required)
English tours might be available upon request
Looking for original tours featuring science, history and technical know-how? Hydro-Québec’s got just the ticket!
Check it out!
Beauharnois Generating Station and
Interpretation Center
80, boul. de Melocheville
Beauharnois (Québec) J6N 0M1
Tel. : 1 800 365-5229Tel. : 1 800 365-5229
(between 9:30 a.m. and
4 p.m.)
Get in touch by
email.
For additional information
Free admission
Reservations are required at
all times
and must be made at least
24 hours in advance.
To reserve a free guided tour in
English, please call
1 800 365-5229
1 800 365-5229
.
Get in touch by
email.
Try one of our two rallies while you’re on the premises, either before or after your tour.
It’s easy! Download the Tour Rallies app, choose a rally, then have fun taking the quiz! (Psst! The answers to all the questions can be found in the permanent exhibition at the interpretation center.)
